Wednesday, August 12, 2009

I wish I could run in the dark august morning, before most of the world is awake, before most of my co-workers are awake too. I heard on the radio this morning while riding to work from the pool that there are meteor showers in the mornings. Two years ago in August the same thing was taking place and I saw so many shooting stars while running in the early mornings. I remember one distinct time I went to the track with my mom and she walked while I ran. We must have seen 20 shooting stars - it was a great way to start the day! I am really going to miss seeing that this year.

Today and Monday I went swimming and managed to swim over 1000 yards each day which is a distance PR. Monday swimming really drained me and by 3pm I was so tired I just wanted to fall asleep. I had to get up and get a snack just to make it through the rest of the day. Working 40 hours in 4 days (10 hour days from 7am to 530pm) is really getting tough with this morning swimming but at least I get to exercise. Anyway - I am slowly building up my endurance. Only one more week of this because I think the pool I go to is closed the last week of August. I am hoping that I can start running again with the start of September (Fingers crossed!)

Nothing else is really new in my life - Weekends have been filled to the brim with a family reunion, a wedding, and catching up with old friends!

Oh one last thing - so in my second year of college I had terrible back pain while training for basketball. The trainers at school thought it was because my hamstrings were too tight (mainly on my right side). Well I went to the state fair with the fam and there was had a free chiropractic evaluation and I decided that I would try it. Well they told me that my right hip was slightly higher (or maybe it was lower? cant remember now) than my left hip - moral of the story my hips are not at the same level. I bet a lot of people have this but maybe it never ever causes any problems. It just clicked in my head the other day about this because all my injuries have been on my right side (hip flexor, knee, etc). So maybe my hips are to blame? But what can I really do about it?

Great job swimming! I really need to get on my swimming, it's such a great cross train and all over work out.

I too have the same issues, my entire body is shifted ever so slightly thanks to scoliosis. I do these exercises which help: If you have a foam roller, cup it under your left arm and stretch your right arm up and over your head. Stretch like this for 5-10 minutes daily and it really helps loosen you up. Learned that from my PT. Good luck and I am keeping my fingers crossed you are back in your sneakers by September!

You should see a sports medicine doc. If what you are being told is true, it can be fixed with custom orthotics.

And about a headlamp - I would stay away from a cheap one. I found (through my own experience) that the cheaper ones do a good job of letting others see you, but LED lamps throw a pretty diffuse light beam and doesn't really do a lot to illuminate your path. I ended up spending about $60 for this baby: http://www.rei.com/product/745183. It is a bit bulky, but it throws a focused beam of light as far as 50 to 60 feet in front of me. Just do't look up into the fac of a cyclist at night - this baby will blind them for sure!

I have to wear inserts in my shoes! My left leg is a tiny bit shorter than my right. Its annoying but mostly i wear them in my running shoes and i take them out when i'm gonna be on my feet for long periods of time at work and wear them in my work shoes.

Great job on the swimming-- i wish i could get into it, but swimming and i get along like water and oil HAHA!